EFFICIENCY: Thirteen states and several environmental groups sue the Trump administration over its rollback of appliance efficiency standards. (The Hill)

ALSO:
• Commercial energy use has dropped, but empty office buildings are still consuming lots of power during the coronavirus pandemic. (Greentech Media)
• Ohio’s consumer advocate asks state regulators to divert funding from energy efficiency programs into bill payment assistance during the pandemic, but critics say the move would be short-sighted. (Energy News Network)

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WIND:
• Iberdrola wants to be the biggest player in the U.S. offshore wind market after a surge in investment as soon as the coronavirus crisis passes. (Greentech Media)
• An Arkansas wind turbine plant is closing due to declining demand for specific blades, affecting about 470 workers. (E&E News, subscription)

EMISSIONS:
• U.S. power sector carbon emissions are expected to drop 7.5% this year due to the economic halt from COVID-19. (Utility Dive)
• An international energy consultancy forecasts that new nuclear plants or carbon capture could be necessary for full decarbonization. (Greentech Media)

POLLUTION: The Trump administration disregards scientific advice and declines to tighten a regulation on industrial soot emissions. (New York Times)

COAL:
• The operator of one of the country’s newest coal-fired power plants in West Virginia files for bankruptcy, citing weak demand for electricity, cheap natural gas and the coronavirus pandemic. (Ohio Valley Resource)
• Georgia regulators stop the permitting process for the last proposed coal plant in the U.S. after denying project developers more time to start construction. (E&E News, subscription)

OIL & GAS:
• President Trump’s deal with foreign governments to cut oil production may be too little, too late for some U.S. oil companies, experts say. (Washington Post)
• During a 10-hour virtual Texas oil and gas regulator meeting, more than 55 energy executives, analysts and critics weigh in on a request to cut the state’s oil production but regulators aren’t ready to do so yet. (Texas Tribune)
• Pollution from oil and gas development could be increasing the risk the coronavirus poses to Navajo families in the Greater Chaco region of northwestern New Mexico. (New Mexico Political Report)

PIPELINES: Officials from two Pennsylvania counties question the “life-sustaining” exemption that allows the Mariner East pipeline to resume some construction during the coronavirus pandemic. (Daily Times)

NUCLEAR: More Plant Vogtle workers test positive for COVID-19 while work on the nuclear plant continues for essential employees. (Augusta Chronicle)

HYDROGEN: A Rocky Mountain Institute official says a Los Angeles municipal utility’s plans for a utility-scale hydrogen power plant can be a catalyst for other green hydrogen efforts in the region. (Governing)

GRID: A new analysis examines the steps Western states need to take on grid flexibility to accommodate greater amounts of renewable energy. (Forbes)

POLITICS: A group of former Jay Inslee 2020 staffers aims to promote the Washington governor’s climate plans to Joe Biden and congressional leaders. (HuffPost)

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OVERSIGHT: “Zoombombers” disrupt a virtual meeting of the Montana Public Service Commission. (Yellowstone Public Radio)

COMMENTARY:
• A creator of the Green New Deal proposal says addressing climate change is a big-enough idea to revive the economy. (New York Times)
• Former Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer says a pandemic is not the time to pander to fossil fuels. (Greentech Media)
• A progressive think tank’s analysis concludes that the Trump administration’s war on renewable energy has led to the loss of at least 622,000 jobs. (Medium)

Dan has two decades' experience working in print, digital and broadcast media. Prior to joining the Energy News Network as managing editor in December 2017, he oversaw watchdog reporting at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, part of the USA Today Network, and before that spent several years as a freelance journalist covering energy, business and technology. Dan is a former Midwest Energy News journalism fellow and a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.